Bacterial Meningitis Information
- By:Juliet Cohen
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord, usually due to the spread of an infection. Meningitis may develop in response to a number of causes, including infectious agents, physical injury and cancer. Meningitis can also be caused by other organisms and some medicines. Bacterial meningitis is rare, but can be deadly. It usually starts with bacteria that cause a cold-like infection. It can block blood vessels in the brain and lead to stroke and brain damage. Many different types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis. In newborns, the most common causes are Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Many different types of bacteria can cause bacterial meningitis.
In newborns, the most common causes are Group B streptococcus, Escherichia coli, and Listeria monocytogenes. Another bacteria, haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), can also cause the illness but because of extensive childhood immunization, these cases are now rarer. Many different viruses can lead to viral meningitis, including enteroviruses (such as coxsackievirus, poliovirus, and hepatitis A) and the herpesvirus. Headache is the most common symptom of meningitis. Other signs commonly associated with meningitis are photophobia , phonophobia , irritability and delirium and seizures. Most meningitis cases now occur in young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Older adults also tend to have a higher incidence of meningitis than do young children.
Acute bacterial meningitis requires prompt treatment with intravenous antibiotics. Antibiotics will be prescribed for bacterial meningitis. Vaccines can prevent some of the bacterial infections that cause meningitis. Treatment of mild cases of viral meningitis is usually with bed rest, plenty of fluids and over-the-counter pain medications to help reduce fever and relieve body aches. Good hygiene is an important way to prevent any infection. Encourage kids to wash their hands thoroughly and often, particularly before eating and after using the bathroom. Avoiding close contact with someone who is obviously ill and not sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils can help halt the spread of germs as well. Haemophilus vaccine in children will help prevent of meningitis.
Bacterial Meningitis Treatement and Prevention Tips
1. Vaccines can prevent some of the bacterial infections of meningitis.
2. Good hygiene is an important way to prevent the infection.
3. Encourage kids to wash their hands thoroughly and often.
4. Avoiding close contact with someone who is obviously ill.
5. Not sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils can help halt the spread of germs as well.
6. Bed rest, plenty of fluids and over-the-counter pain medications to help reduce fever and relieve body aches.About the author:
Juliet Cohen writes articles for Women Health. She also writes articles for Early Pregnancy and Pregnancy Calendar.